Sun Moon Federation.
Eastsea City, Blacksmith Association.
Inside the private quarters belonging exclusively to Mu Chen, president of the association.
A golden-haired girl carefully opened a door and slipped inside.
Seeing the boy sleeping on the bed, she crept closer with a mischievous grin.
"Little sleepyhead, time to get up!"
But before she could tease him—
The boy suddenly opened his eyes. Panic and reluctance filled his gaze as he abruptly half-sat up in bed.
"Don't..."
Bang!
"Ow!" The girl cried out in pain and fell onto the bed.
"Hiss!" The boy also clutched his forehead and sucked in a breath, then lay back down.
For a moment, the room was filled with groans and sharp breaths.
"A-Yue, why did you wake up?!" Rubbing her slightly reddened forehead, the girl complained coquettishly, "You could've warned me."
"Big Sister Mu Xi, why did you sneak into my room again?"
Xu Yue's forehead hurt as well, but her words left him speechless. "Besides, I was asleep. How was I supposed to warn you?"
"Hehe!"
Mu Xi lowered the fair little hand covering her forehead and scratched her golden hair, trying to muddle through it.
Besides, as a two-ring Soul Grandmaster and a Level 1 Blacksmith, her physical condition was naturally much better than Xu Yue's.
The one who should have been hurting more ought to have been him.
At that thought, Mu Xi's heart skipped a beat.
She hurriedly wanted to ask whether Xu Yue was hurt anywhere, but when she looked up, she saw the trace of gloom that had just faded from his eyes. Her tone softened.
"A-Yue, were you thinking about Uncle and Auntie again? Didn't the Blood God Legion say they were only missing? Maybe..."
Hearing Mu Xi's careful consolation, Xu Yue could not help but laugh brightly and comfort her instead. "Don't worry, Big Sister Mu Xi. I'm fine. I just dreamed about them."
"As for my parents, I know what happened in my heart. You don't need to comfort me like this."
He was a child, but not truly a child.
He knew better than anyone what kind of place the Blood God Legion was.
As the front line in the war against the Abyss, disappearance was no different from death.
Not to mention that, according to the person who had delivered the news, wreckage of a Mecha and Battle Armor had been found at the scene. That only further confirmed his suspicions.
Their so-called disappearance was merely a comforting lie.
Seeing Xu Yue like this, Mu Xi relaxed slightly.
But soon, she puffed out her fair cheeks in displeasure and reached out with both delicate hands to pinch his cheeks.
"I don't like you acting like such a little adult. You were much cuter normally."
"Hurry up and get dressed. Today is the day your Martial Soul awakens."
Xu Yue's eyes immediately lit up.
He had waited for this day for a long time.
Although this era's story revolved around the two Dragon Kings, his own bloodline was no weaker.
His surname was Xu—the Xu of the Sun-Moon Xu Clan.
Not the branch of Xu Yunhan, the usurper, but the orthodox imperial family.
Though he was not from the main line, his father's Martial Soul had been the Sun Martial Soul, the standard Martial Soul of the Xu Family.
If nothing unexpected happened, his would be the same.
And even if he did not awaken the Sun Martial Soul, it did not matter.
The Xu Family's bloodline also carried the inheritances of Silver Moon and the Purple Imperial Heaven-Destroying Dragon, both of which were peak Martial Souls.
However, just as he was about to get out of bed, his gaze fell once more on the golden-haired girl beside him. His face darkened.
"Big Sister Mu Xi, I need to get dressed."
Mu Xi blinked her golden eyes, nodded matter-of-factly, and replied loudly, "I know."
Xu Yue took a deep breath. Looking at the complete lack of awareness on her face, he felt rather helpless.
Although he had lived with the Mu Family since he was three and had grown up with Mu Xi, things were different now.
"Then, Big Sister Mu Xi, shouldn't you step outside for a moment?"
"Hmph! You're getting less cute as you grow up." Mu Xi pouted and glanced at Xu Yue. "As if there's anything on you I haven't seen before."
Still, she listened to him, walked outside, and gently pulled the door shut.
Watching Mu Xi's back, Xu Yue felt deeply helpless.
He quickly changed clothes and opened the door, only to find that Mu Xi had not left. She had been waiting outside all along.
"Big Sister Mu Xi, let's go. Don't keep Uncle Mu and Aunt Bao waiting too long."
Mu Xi turned around. Seeing Xu Yue dressed and ready, her beautiful eyes brightened.
His black hair was medium-length, and he looked spirited and handsome. Unlike his father's dazzling golden-red eyes, his were a clear amber.
Though he was only six years old, one could already see how exceptional his parents' genes were.
However, they truly had delayed for some time.
Without another word, Mu Xi grabbed Xu Yue's hand and jogged toward the dining room.
"Big Sister Mu Xi, slow down. Don't use Soul Power."
Xu Yue looked helpless as she dragged him along, as though he were being pulled by a stubborn ox.
Before long, beside the dining table.
Yuan Bao'er watched Mu Xi and Xu Yue rush over. Her lovely brows furrowed slightly in helplessness.
"Xiao Xi, you're bullying your little brother again."
"When did I?" Mu Xi protested sweetly, giving Xu Yue a push. "A-Yue, tell my mom. Did I bully you?"
Xu Yue rolled his eyes at her. "Aunt Bao, Big Sister Mu Xi treats me very well."
"That's more like it." Mu Xi smiled and pulled Xu Yue into a seat.
Mu Chen, who had been watching the two interact, smiled.
"All right, stop fooling around. Sit down and eat."
"Got it, Dad!" "Got it, Uncle Mu!"
The two immediately answered and sat quietly.
Since Xu Yue would be undergoing his Martial Soul awakening today, breakfast went slightly faster than usual.
In the living room.
Xu Yue looked at Mu Chen and asked curiously,
"Uncle Mu, are we going to the Awakening Room?"
But as soon as he finished speaking, Mu Xi lightly flicked his forehead. "A-Yue, are you silly?"
"When our family awakens Martial Souls, why would we go through a public awakening?"
Hearing that, Xu Yue finally realized.
His memories had made him think out of habit.
Mu Chen was an Eight-Star Saint Craftsman and the president of Eastsea City's Blacksmith Association. Even on Douluo Continent, he was considered a top-tier powerhouse.
How could a family like this possibly need a public Awakening Room for a Martial Soul awakening?
Mu Chen and Yuan Bao'er watched Mu Xi and Xu Yue bicker and play, smiling warmly.
They had been close friends with Xu Yue's parents for many years. Otherwise, his parents would not have entrusted Xu Yue to them when they went to the Blood God Legion.
They were naturally pleased to see the two children so close.
At that moment, Mu Chen had already placed the prepared Awakening Array in the living room and called to Xu Yue.
"Xiao Yue, come over. It's time to awaken!"
Hearing this, Xu Yue stopped playing around with Mu Xi and stepped onto the Awakening Array inscribed in rare metals.
He stood quietly, anticipation in his eyes.
Meeting Xu Yue's gaze, Mu Chen pointed into the air. A surge of Soul Power instantly spread out, activating the Awakening Array.
In an instant, streaks of white light lit up across the array and gradually extended inward from the outer edge to Xu Yue's feet.
Xu Yue felt a warm current flow from his feet throughout his entire body. An unfamiliar power awakened within him, and his right hand rose involuntarily.
A blazing golden-red fireball gradually appeared above it.
"This is... the sun!"
Upon seeing Xu Yue's Martial Soul, smiles appeared on the faces of all three members of the Mu Family. The Sun Martial Soul was exactly as expected.
But at that moment, Mu Chen, the strongest person present, suddenly sensed something unusual. His expression changed slightly as he cried out,
"No! This is bad!!!"
The moment his words fell, the entire Blacksmith Association Building began to tremble strangely.
Before you continue